Om alone with Shah Rukh

Each times his movie hits the theatres, he proves that he deserves each of the titles he has been given. With Om Shanti Om, he has only raised the bar for himself and has gone higher on the success meter.

It is the first time you have gone all out to promote a film. Can we say you are the best producer?

What happens is that every time, the bar is set a little higher. Like with Don, we required people to come and see the styling. OSO has come in at a time when it's important for people to go in hordes and see it during the festive period. I go out and promote it depending on what kind of film it is. The next film that we do will have an even bigger platform.

Sajid Nadiadwala recently said that it's not wise for OSO and Saawariya to release on the same day and one is bound to suffer. Comment.

(Laughs) Sajid is speaking from experience (last year, Sajid's Jaan-E-Mann and SRK's Don released together, and Sajid's film suffered). But I haven't had that kind of an experience. I don't know. I don't think it's wise, smart or intelligent. We are both selling films. Two products launched on the same day is obviously not good business.

Salman has said that he would promote your film if you asked him to.

We have discussed that. I know even when he is promoting Saawariya, he will promote OSO. I don't have to ask him.

What's your take on Saawariya?

See, there are too many friends involved in that film, and I know Sanjay very well. But I don't know what kind of a relationship Farah and Sanjay share.

Sanjay did complain to you about Farah, right?

Farah complained about Sanjay too. I think they share a love-hate relationship. I think I should not get between them because I got to know Sanjay and Farah a little after they'd gotten to know each other. They will continue to have issues and problems. But I am not a part of it. I am fond of both of them. If he tells me to promote Saawariya, I will.

Did you ask Bhansali to postpone the date of release?

I'd asked Bhansali to tell me his release date, to avoid a clash but that didn't happen—not because he didn't want to tell me, or he was hiding. He was not sure and then we had to take a call. I am sticky about my release date. That's been a thing with me as an actor also. I like to fix the date in advance. It's one of the organised bits of my filmmaking.

I remember we didn't go ahead with Miramax for Main Hoon Na because they wanted to change the date. And we would've been the first company to tie up with an international company but I said no, I am not doing it. And they were really shocked. They said it was just a date change. But I stuck to my date.

How do you manage to charm the audience each time?

I am like a bad habit and you can't kick those bad habits. It is the worst habit India has. Bad habits are very difficult for people to get over and you are stuck with them for the rest of your life.

My fans should not feel short changed or cheated that they wanted more out of Shah Rukh and could not get it. Every film is about respect. It is always going to be the star first, my personality first or the one who has repeatedly been blamed for playing himself. Yes, I have played myself by playing someone else.

What is your take on Akshay Kumar's box office position being compared to yours?

Akshay is the most viable star in the country now. He's doing more prolific work and giving more hits. He is not only good looking but focused and really hard working too. I am very fond of him. I have known him for years now. Today, the concept of a single star ruling seems to be slowly phasing out. It's like a league of movie stars that are all very secure, happy, singing, dancing. It's beautiful.

Aamir, Salman, Akshay and I, we are all big stars today. It's like tennis ranking. One Grand Slam, and there you go. But the commercial success of others never makes me feel any lesser or more successful. God isn't there only to give Shah Rukh Khan everything. In fact, he shouldn't be giving only me.

Are you planning to only work in your home productions from now on with a film here and there for Karan Johar and Yash Chopra?

It's not like that. I would do any film. Unfortunately, the one I was supposed to do with Vidhu Vinod Chopra did not work out because I wanted a little more time for Robot, and now Robot has also not worked out. So I am free now to do things. What's happening is that as an actor, one gets offers of money, which are huge amounts. I've never taken this kind of money in my career. I've never taken even half the kind of money, which is being touted as my price.

Are you upset that Chak De! India did not make it to the Oscars?

I am happy with the Filmfare award. The Oscar is not something that I will cry about. If I get it, good, if not — it's ok.

At 42, you have made six pack abs a trend. What are your thoughts on that?

I know people have been saying that I got my abs through special effects, surgery, and steroids, but I know how much hard work I put into this. When I was working out, I thought, I can't get bigger biceps than Salman, a stronger chest than John or even wider shoulders than Hrithik, so I said why not concentrate on my abs. I have a very oriental kind of physique, like Bruce Lee, so I guess it's standing out.

Out of the 42 years, you have spent 18 years maintaining a super successful career in Bollywood. Now, do you feel like you have seen and done it all?

I don't look at age as a reason for making more intelligent and wiser decisions. I don't think what I did earlier was wrong and what I do now is right. It's the wrongest notion that older people are smarter and wiser, I feel they are just older. In the film industry, someday I read I am ruling more, some days less, someday a younger star has toppled me. I think I am beyond all this now.

But yes, it's been 18 years and people say I have been the King of Bollywood, and I like it. I am not pompous but I don't know how it feels not to be successful. For me, there's always been one way and that is success. So I don't know how it's not to be the King of Bollywood. I feel it's my birthright now.

Do you get annoyed when people call you uncle?

My kids' friends call me Shah Rukh Khan. Sometimes I get taken aback when they call me by my name during our soccer sessions. They usually say, 'Shah Rukh can you pass the ball. We need to practise'. Not too many people call me uncle now, but they will soon, I'm sure. Sometimes I wish they would call me uncle. My daughter feels awkward when her friends call me 'SRK'. BM&C

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